Islam

Juan Cole | PBS | Religion and Ethics Newsweekly (Video Interview) | – – Via Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, PBS On my new book, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires, coming out October 9 Available for pre-order at Barnes and Noble And Nicola’s Books in Ann Arbor And Hachette And Amazon “Juan […]

Iraq

Sunni Clans in Iraq threaten Reprisals against ISIL Collaborators

contributors

Kamal al-Ayash | Anbar | (Niqash.org) | – – In Ramadi, tribes are marking houses belonging to suspected Islamic State [group] collaborators with special graffiti. Often the houses are demolished two or three days later. But the tribes can also get it wrong. Graffiti on walls in Ramadi calling for tribal justice. (photo: Kamal al-Ayash) […]

Iraq

In Mosul, ISIL Extremists Wall in Residents, prepare for Armageddon

contributors

Special Correspondent | Mosul | (Niqash.org) | – – In Mosul, the Islamic State is preparing for a siege, building walls, tunnels and trenches and boasting that, like the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century, they will be able to withstand any attacks. Locals doubt it. In Mosul, members of the extremist group that control […]

Islam

The myth and history of Sunni-Shia divide

contributors

By Amir Ahmadi Arian | ( OpenDemocracy ) | – – Sunnis and Shias have lived together in peace for centuries, and up to the new millennium have barely had a history of bloody conflict. Why now? Head of the Shiite opposition, left, and Sunni Muslim leader of a liberal opposition party, right, hold a […]

Millenarianism

The Millenarian Dimensions of the Attempted Coup in Turkey and implications for Muslim Modernism & Traditionalism

contributors

By Mohammed Nuruzzaman | (Informed Comment) | – – The failed July 15 coup in Turkey has generated a whole range of debates on who was really behind the coup, Turkey’s future relations with NATO and the U.S., and President Erdogan’s possible pivot to Russia and Iran. A more serious debate that did not receive […]

Islam

What’s The Hajj About, Anyway?

contributors

AJ+ | (Video Report) | – – “The Hajj: It’s one of the biggest gatherings in the world, with millions of Muslims from everywhere making the pilgrimage to the city of Mecca – but what’s it about, anyway?” AJ+: “What’s The Hajj About, Anyway?”

Featured

Nearly 500 more US Troops sent to Iraq for Mosul Attack in advance of Election Day

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Stars and Stripes is reporting that the number of US troops in Iraq has risen from 4,000 to 4,460 in preparation for the Iraqi government campaign against Mosul. The WSJ reported that the government of Iraqi prime minister Haydar al-Abadi wants to begin the campaign in […]

Featured

Saudi Bigot-in-Chief Declares Iranian Shiites “Not Muslim”

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – `Abd al-Aziz Al Shaikh, the chief jurisconsult or mufti for the interpretation of Muslim law in Saudi Arabia, said Wednesday that Iranian Shiites are not Muslims. This statement is a huge step back from the limited progress Saudi had made under the previous king, Abdullah, toward […]

Christianity

The Violent Christian West should drop Islamophobia and work on itself

contributors

By Johan Galtung | (Inter Press Service) | – – ALICANTE, Spain (IPS) – Watching Christianity nearly a century–fundamentalist Christians fighting ritualistic Christians fighting secularism, generally moving fundamentalism–>ritualism–>secularism–maybe the same for Islam? Their similarities make “Islam right now” a repetition of Christianity; their differences shout, Watch Out! Let us see where this leads us. Johan […]